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The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has issued a rule to postpone the effective date of changes to the organic standards for mushrooms and pet food. Initially set to take effect on December 23, 2024, the new regulations will now be effective from March 21, 2025, with compliance required by March 22, 2027. This delay follows a presidential directive for a regulatory review, addressing aspects like mushroom growing materials and the use of certain synthetic substances in organic pet food. The decision is immediate to allow more time for review and was made without public comment, as it was considered impractical and against public interest to delay this process until after additional comments.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the USDA has issued a final rule that amends the pricing provisions in 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). These changes include updating milk composition factors and surveyed commodity products, revising Class III and IV formula factors, and modifying the Class I skim milk price calculation. Most amendments will take effect on June 1, 2025, while certain adjustments related to skim milk composition will be effective December 1, 2025. This rule aims to more accurately reflect current market conditions and ensure orderly milk marketing.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) of the USDA has announced a new pilot program under the Section 504 Direct Single Family Housing Loans and Grants. This program aims to simplify the process for very low-income homeowners in rural areas who need to repair or renovate their homes. A key feature of the pilot is allowing funds to be used for construction materials payment before delivery, addressing common payment issues faced by contractors and applicants. The program is set to run from December 2, 2024, to December 2, 2026, with the possibility of extension, and it includes 25 states and U.S. territories.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to classify Canada as Level I for both bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis, based on evaluations they have prepared. This proposal is open for public review and comment until April 26, 2021. The evaluations and additional information are available for public access on the Regulations.gov website or can be viewed at the USDA's reading room in Washington, DC. After considering any comments received, APHIS will announce the final decision regarding Canada's classification in a future notice.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA has prepared an environmental assessment on releasing two insects, Bikasha collaris and Gadirtha fusca, to control the invasive Chinese tallow tree in the United States. This assessment suggests that the release of these insects is unlikely to harm the human environment. The public can review and comment on this assessment by February 22, 2021. The purpose is to use these insects as a biological control method to address the spread of the Chinese tallow tree, which has become a significant invasive species in several states.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is providing extra support to farmers impacted by COVID-19. This final rule offers more help to swine producers who applied for CFAP 1 and extends aid to some swine and poultry contract producers under CFAP 2. It also updates eligible commodities, changes payment calculations for some crops, and includes new rules based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Eligible producers don't have to reapply if they've applied before but must meet certain criteria to receive aid.

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) are seeking public feedback on the Scientific Report prepared by the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Individuals are encouraged to submit written comments online or by mail within 60 days after the report is made available, with specific instructions on submissions provided on the respective government websites. Additionally, the public can register to give virtual oral comments on January 16, 2025, with pre-registration required. These oral presentations can be either live or pre-recorded, aimed at addressing the scientific findings and recommendations within the report.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development (RD) division is changing its funding opportunities to remove references to the previous Administration's key priorities and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria. This update follows an Executive Order titled "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing," issued in January 2025. Programs affected by this change will no longer consider these previous criteria for application scoring. Additionally, the Rural Energy for America Program's funding notice is corrected to include $50 million from the 2018 Farm Bill that was previously omitted.

The Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order has been amended to increase the assessment rate from $0.35 to $0.41 per thousand board feet. This rule is administered by the Softwood Lumber Board under the oversight of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA. The additional funds will support ongoing and new initiatives to promote softwood lumber. This change follows the review of past expenditures and revenues and aims to support the lumber industry's growth, addressing both current challenges and new opportunities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking public feedback on a draft policy statement regarding biosafety for outdoor large animal studies involving the bacteria Brucella abortus and Brucella suis. This policy aims to guide the development of biosafety plans that comply with regulations set by both the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for research on these bacteria, which pose a threat to human and animal health. The draft policy is available for review, and public comments can be submitted until March 16, 2021, through the provided methods. The policy's goal is to enhance safety protocols for studies on the diseases caused by these bacteria, which affect several animal species and can be transmitted to humans.